photosynthesis

• what is photosynthesis?

  • process producing food in plants which produce glucose
• where does photosynthesis take place?

  • in leaves of all green plants - takes place inside the chloroplasts
• what is the word equation for photosynthesis?

  • carbon dioxide + water (light) -----> (chlorophyll) glucose + oxygen
• what is the symbol equation for photosynthesis?

  • 6CO2 + 6H20 -> C6H1206 + 6O2
• what does photosynthesis do that makes it important?

  • converts light energy to chemical energy which is stored in glucose - chemical energy released when glucose is broken down during respiration
• how are leaves adapted for efficient photosynthesis?

  • leaves are broad - large SA exposure for light
  • chloroplasts are in palisade layer
  • upper epidermis - transparent so light pass through to palisade layer
  • vascular bundles - transport xylem and phloem - deliver water and other nutrients to all parts of leaf and take away glucose produced by photosynthesis
  • waxy cuticle - reduce water loss via evaporation
  • stomata - allows CO2 to diffuse directly into leaf